Attaching machine



W. E. ELLIOTT ATTACHING MACHINE May 1o, 1927.- 1,621.8;59

Filed April 5. 1922 2 sheetspsheef. 1

. Arrx.

l 1927. A M" o w. e. :Luorr urucarud incarna Filed April 5.1922v vsans 2 /NVEN 727/?. Ma/Anffcuarl;

Patented May 1G, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM E. ELLIOTT, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

ATTACHING MACHINE.'

Application led April 5,

This invention concerns machines for at taching to articles certain portions thereof, being directed particularly to apparatus for stapling handles upon bags. Many inexpensive carrying cevices consist of a sack of paper, or like material, at each sideof the center' of which, in both the opposite walls Aand near the mouth, is an opening, into Aing a particular embodiment of the invention, Fig.r l is a perspective viewof my improved machine; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the head of the machine, associated work-supporting table and a portionof the wire-reel; Fig. 3 shows the mechanism in the interior of theA head for feeding the staple-wire and forming and setting the staples; Fi a is a perspectivey view of this portion of the apparatus. including the actuating lever; Fig. 5 illustrates in perspective the work-positioning members and their more closely associated actuating elements; Fig. 6 is a detail in front elevation showing the work-positioning members in their closed relation g, Fig. 7 is aperspective view of the staple-former and staple-driver; Figs. 8 and J are vertical sections taken through the center ofthe head from the front toward the rear of the machine, illustrating the parts respectively in their inactive and active positions: Fig. 10` is a plan view of the gaging devices for the bag; and Fig. 11 isa central section through the wire-reel.

Similar characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

Extending forwardly from a frame 10 a substantially horizontal arm 12, alt the lovard extremity of which is a head 1l carry' mechanism for forming a staple il made from wire lll. his wire is coiled upon a rcel 1G arranged to turn upon a ln'aclzct 18 projecting from one side of the arm 12 adjacent to the head. The forming and driving mechanism includes a primary slide mounted to move vertically in ways 1922. serial No. 549,889.

upon the rear wall of the'head, a stapleformer mounted to reciprocate in the lower portion of the head, a driver-bar 24C movable up and down through the stapleformer and directly joined to the slide 20, a former-actuating member 26 pivoted on said slide, a yieldable pressure member 27 acting upon the staple-'former and a wire-v feeding lever 28 with its feed-dog 30 and holding dog 32. All these elements, save for some trilling changes due to thel present adaptation of the mechanisms for the attachment of bag-handles rather than buttons, are as shown and described in my Patent- No. 1,147,381, granted July 20,1915, and need notU here be described. The lever 3li'or controlling the wire-feed is also 'located and operated as in said patent.; but, in addition to its previous function, has another, which will be hereinafter developed.

ln the present invention `a novel staple forming mechanism is provided which comprises a lever 33 which is pivotally mounted upon a stud 35 in the head of the machine and has a transversely slotted end portion 37 to receive the staple wire as it is fed beneath the former 22. The upper end of the lever 33 is provided with a tail 39 which normally engages the vertical side 41 of the driver, but during the driving movement of the driver passes over the inclined upper end 113* of the driver.

In the operation of the machine the lever 33 is normally held in the positionillustrated in Fig. S during the downward movement of the driver and former and is retained in such position until the staple is bent into U-form around the lower member of the transversely slotted end portion 37. During the further downward movement of the driver the inclined lower edge of the driver engages the curved or cam-shaped portion 45 of said lever and forces it rearwardly toward the left to the position illustrated in Fig. 9 during the driving and setting of the staple. After the staple has been set the upward movement of the driver causes the inclined upper edge 4:8* of the driver to engage the tail 39 of the lever thereby forcing the lower bifurcated end portion forward, to the position illustrated in Fig. 8. so that if the staple should be retained in the upwardly moving former it will be knocked out and prevented from rising with the former and tlius interfering with the proper' engagement ot the former with the next wire when the next staple is to be formed.

rlhe driver-bar 24C co-operates, in the setting ot the staple formed by the member 22, with an anvil 36 lined below the head upon the forward extremity ot an arm 38 entending from the traine l0. n proximity to lhe anvil, upon the upper surl'v ce ot the a rm fifi, is supported a table l0 having?r lateral extensions 42, 42, which are held upon the ends ot brackets 4:3, projecting from opposite sides oit the trame. ln the Vformer is a transverse groove all, and in the driver-bar 24; a similar groove 46, these grooves respectively engaging the wire in the torinaftion oit the staple and the yolre of the formed staple to effect its setting'. Lying` transversely ot the groove 4G in the end ot the driver-bar is a space tS, through which a cord C to be stapled to a bag B to turnish its handle may extend during the setting operation, without being pinched between the driver-bar and the anvil. ln the staple-former a like space 50, the walls 52, or which diverge rearwardly, this receiving` the handle in a similar manner and also permitting its detlection to one side or the other as it curves away from the point ot attachment, as is best illustrated in Fig. l0 ot the drawings. if he actuating` mechanism for this forming and driving; mechanism includes a lever ll- :tulcrumed at 56 upon the 'traine and oscillated by an eccentric-rod 5S, the strap G0 ot which surrounds an eccentric (52 lined upon a power-shaft 6 journaled horizontally in the frame.

Attached to the front of the head ll is a casing 66, within which, mounted in vertical ways, is a secondary slide 68. Pivoted at on the upper portion ot this slide is a pair ot handle-positioning members 72, 72, which extend downwardly below the head. their ends lying` at each side ot the anvil and being movable in the operation ot the machine transversely thereof. ln their open position, these lower hand]e-engaging` ends are separated by a considerable space, as appears in Figs. 2 and 5 ot the drawings, so that they descend in the operation ot' the machine, they may contact with a handle not precisely located in the stapling` position, and move it across the anvil into alinenient with the end ol the driver-bar 2d, as they close to the point illustrated in Fig. 6. Guided in the casing 66, in front of the handle positioning members 72, 72 and moving` in a direction parallel to that of the slide are two actuzitingY slides 74 and S0 connecting; the primary and secondary slides and operating` the positioning members. One otI these actuating; slides 74 has, at its upper extremity, a vertically elongated opening,r 76 receiving the end ot' a pin 78 which is secured to and projects from the lever 3a so that the oscillation ot the mareas lever 34 serves also to actuate the slide 74E. Between the slide 7st and the positioning members is a second actuatingv slide S() having mounted about av horizontal pin 82 at the inner side ot its lower end, a roll Si lying within slots 86, 86 in the positioning` menibers 72, 72. site directions at angles o t' about 4J) degrees to the direction o lj movement of the slides, their upper and lower walls acting; as camsurtaces inthe contact oit the roll 8st with them to swing the imnubers i2 about their pivotas the roll travels. lelow the slots SG each positioningmember has a substantially vertical end 88, by which the handle is engaged in the positioning operation. rlheir rear adjacent edges, which are nearest the anvil, approach each other most closely 'to attain accuracy in positioning the handle. From these edges, the walls ot the portions 88, 88 diverge outwardly to give some tree dom :tor the handle to vary in its lateral position where precision oit location is unnecessary. rThe outward movement ot the members 72, 72 may be limited by depending arms or abutments 90, 90 upon the secondary slide 68. Projecting forwardly from this slide, through arcuate slots 92 in the members 72, 72, is a rod olf a friction device 9G tor connecting the slides 68 and 80. 'lhis device shown as consistingy otI washers 98 and 100, the toi-mer bearing against the outer tace ot' the actuatingY slide 8l), through a vertical slot lOl in which the rod 94E extends, while the latter is pinned upon the outer end ot the rod. Between these washers is a helical springY 102 surroundingthe rod and exerting` its expansive torce to press the washer 98 against the slide SO. A friction device 104e, similar to Q6, connects the actuating; slides 74 and 80. ln this device lO/l, the rod which attaches it to the inner slide passes through a slot 105 in the slide Tl. When the pin 78 descends with the lever llt in the staple-drivingmovement, its contact with the lower end ot the opening` 7G carries down the actuating slide 74;. the 'friction devices 96 and 104 at this time using the actuating' slide 80 and the scmV .y slide 68. with the support-ed positioning members 72, to move together, the ends 88, 8S ot the members being' separated.

lf] hen the inner extreinity ot the pivotpin 70 ot the members 72 strikes the bottom ot a slot 106 in the casing' 66, into which it projects, the travel of the secondary slide 68 is stopped with the lianflle-enggaging ends S8 oi the members 72 t above the table 40. lilloifement oit the actuating slide T-l in this direction continuing', the friction device 96 slips so that the roll Si. carried bv the actuating); meu'ibcr 8O travels along the inclined slots 8f, causing the ends Si# to ai preach each other., and contacting' with the handle which has been placed between them,

These slotsl are inclined in op po-A lll() lill) bring it into alinement with the attaching mechanism. As the downward progress ot' the pin 7 8 in the driving of the staple continu-es, the friction 104 slips, all the elements of the positioning mechanism now remaining stationary, except the actuating member Ti. The attachment ol the handle having thus been completed, upward travel ot the pin 'T8 first carries the ends 88 of vthe positioning members away from the anvil to free the attached handle. Then the friction 9G slips, causing the actuating member to separate the positioning members when the'pivot-pin 70 contacts with the upper extremity of the slot in which it moves. At the end of the operation, the actuating slidev 7l travels alone to its initial position, the friction 1011 yielding. l

To communicatethe movement of the actuating lever 54 to the primaryv slide 20, the lever 54 has at its forward extremity a terminal portion 10T pivoted at 109 upon the lever and capable of playing vertically with lost motion between stop-screws 111, 111. The outer end of'this terminal portion is connected tothe primary slide by a link 113. By varying the position of the stop-screws, the time at which the terminal portion becomes effective to reciprocate the slide 2O may be altered, and the extent of movement ofthe slide, both downwardly and upwardly, adjusted to produce the propel' setting action upon `thel staple and the amount of feed of wire from the reel.

Mounted at oppositesides of the stapling mechanism and just above the table-extensions 42 are gage members 108, '108, which may be of. thin rmateri al adapted to readily enter the mouth of the bagr to which the handles are to be attached.v Each gage member has at its side farthest removed from the attaching mechanism a bag-locating edge 110, the normal distance of which from the center of the anvil is preferably equal to the space between the edge of `the bag at its mouth and the point at which the staple is to be set to secure the handle. Outside this locating edge is an inwardly inclined edge 112. which facilitates the application of the bag to the gage. Each gage member 108 is supported upon a horizontal rod 114 movable in perforated lugs 116` 11G projecting from the corresponding bracket 43. Surroundingthe' rod. between the inner lug and a collar fixed upon said rod, is a helical spring 118` which by its ei;- pansion holds the gage in its normal position with a capacity for yielding toward the attaching mechanism. The point at which the gage-edge 110 lies may be determined and adjusted yby a screw 122 threaded through a lug 124 and being alined with the rod 114. The screw may be locked in its adjusted position by a checlnnut 126. Each gage may be held against turning about the axis of lts supporting rod by a slot 12T formed in a wall 129 continuing the corresponding table-extension 42. The posi.- tion of the openings I) in the bags varies somewhat, andthe operator, having placed the mouth of a bag over the table-extensions, with its upper edge against the forward faces of the walls 129, which brings the setting points for the staples at the right distance from the mouth of the bag, may lind that on moving the edge of the bag at o against the locating edge 110 of the gage, the stapling point transversely is not substantially opposite the opening b. If so, he can, as with the bag in the position illustrated in Fig. `10, either move it and the gage to the right against the tension of the spring 118, or may carry the bag to the left, away from the locating edge, until the alineinent is correct, ywhereupon he may start the machine to set the staple. ln a like manner, the other point of handle-attachment may be accurately located by bringing the opposite edge of the bag into cooperation with the companion gage.

, In order to prevent the handle loop from engaging or embracing the rear side of the head a guard plate 131, which may be of substantially semi-circular form and of a Asullicient width to cover the handle when either of its limbs lare in attaching position,

is secured to the under face of the head to overlie the positioned handle member so that after the operator has presented the bag to the attaching mechanism and stapled the limbs of the handle to the bag the loop of the handle will be prevented from eugaging the head during the movement of the bag. y

As the wire-reels of machines of this character are ordinarily constructed, upon applying the usual movable head to the bodyportion of the reel after a fresh coil of wire has been put in place. one of the convolutions of thecoil is almost certain to fall between the head and the end of the bodyportion, rendering it very difficult to get said head in place. This trouble I obviate by the construction particularly illustrated in Fig. 11. Here the separable head 128 has a hub 130 arranged to tit within the cylindrical body-portion 132, this body being provided with a tixedhead 134 opposite the head. 128.*the coil of wire being received between the two. The body is cored out at 136. and extending about the wall of this portion` somewhat within the outer end of the body and in a plane parallel thereto, is an annular groove 138. Movable in an inclined direction in the hub of the separable head. preferablylying at about -l degrees to the horizontal, are two or more retaining pins 140, each of which pins has a conical end 142. These ends are forced out beyond the cylindrical surface 143 of the hub, which lits within the portion 136 ot the body, by springs llll which encircle the Shanks of the pins and abut against the inclined enlargements and the ends ot the bores in which they lit. jitter the operator has removed the head lQS and placed a fresh coil ot wire upon the holly-p1n'tion, the hub ot the head inserted in the body, the pins l-l() being` drawn haelt by Finger-pieces lfl' to permit this. r the length el the tapered surface ot the ends .lli is such that it'. when the head 1,28 is pressed in, a strand ot wire interposi-es itself between the head and the body, these Yends will still have engagement with the groove 13S, emitir-.jav a retaining; effect. Then, as the ina-chine is operated and the reel rotated by drawing,` the wire troni it, as the lurn caught between the body and head comes to the under side, il' will he Yfreed by gravity, and as it leaves` the space in which it has been caught, the expansion ot' the springs llt/lpr ing); the inclined ends o'l the pins into l'hU groove. will exert a force a component ol which is parallel to the axis of the reel, thus drawingy the head into place.

To outline generally the operation et the apparatus, it may be said that the ojierator, taking;` a bag' with its opposite sides at the mouth parallel to one another, inserts one end of the handle C through one of the openings I), and brings one et the ends ot the mouth against the gage-edge lll) at this side ot the attachingl mechanism, the relation of the point et attachment to the upper edge of' the bag; beine` determined by the contact of this edge with the Walls 129, lt, when thus applied to the machine, the stapling point is found to be opposite the handle-receiving opening, the machine is actuated to set the staple and secure the handle. lf an inaccuracy in the punching of the opening brings this point too tar to one side or the other of the opening, the bag is shilted ei her with the gage, by compressing` its spring, or in the opposite direction by moving it away from the bag-locatingedge. The bag being thus correctly disposed for the stapling operation, the machine is started, and the members 72, 72, descending, contact with the handle at one side or the other, if it is not properly located, and move it into place, there retainingr it during' the staple-setting; operation. lter this. the positioning members rise and tree the handle, whereupon the operator najr slide the bajr along 'the Walls 129 until its opposite edge strikes the other gage; and then. the other end ot the handle being in the corresponding' opening L, the stapling operation is repeated, completing the attachment of the handle at this side of the baan l. claim:

l. ln a machine for attaching portions orn articles, attaching mechanism, positioning means movable in contact With the portion to be attached in proximity to and upon opposite .sides of the attaching` mechanism to aline it laterally with the attaching mechaiisni and means Jor actuating said positioning means from said attaching' mechanism.

2. ln a machine for attaching portions of articles, attaching mechanism, positioning means movable to engage opposite sides ot the portion to be attached to aline it centrally with the attaching' mechanism and nie-ans for nctuatiiigsaid positioning,` means from said atta-iching: mechanism.

ln a inachine for attaching portions ojl'i articles, an anvil, a movable driver co-operating; therewith, and portion-positioning meniiiiers situated adjacent to the driver nzeanf-i operable by the movement of said driver to move said positioning members toward each other laterally ot the anvil, to aline Vthe portion to be attached With the attaching;- mechanism.

et. ln a machine tor attaching portions et articles, an anvil, a movable driver cooperating,` therewith, portion-positioning members situated adjacent to the driver and being; movable laterally of the anvil, and means for moving said positioning members from the driver.

ln a machine for attaching portions et articles, an anvil, a movable driver co-operating therewith, portion-positioning members situated adjacent to the driver and being movable laterally oi the anvil, and means operable through the driver for moving the positioning members into contact with the por l.on to be attached prior to the attach-- ing action of the driver, said members being arranged to retain the portion during such attaching action.

G. In a machine for staplinp,` handles upon bags, staple-driving means, and handlepositioning means (1o-operating with the driving means to clamp and position the handle properly with respect to the driving means.

7. ln a machine for stapling; handles upon bags, staple-driving' means, and pivotally mounted handle-positioning means movable from opposite sides otl the arriving' means in co-ordination with the driving' movement of the staple-driving` means lo position the handle properly with respect l'o the drivingmeans.

8. In a machine for staplina` handles upon lill) lll) capable' of independent relative movement in the direction of driving.

10. In a machine for stapling handles upon bags, an anvil, staple-driving` means movable toward and trom the anvil, handleengaging means movable with the driving means at each side ot' the anvil, and means for moving said engaging means tra-nsversely with respect to the direction oi'A driving.

1l. In a machine for attaching handles to bags, a primary slide, a staple-driver reciprocated thereby, a secondary slide mounted to reciprocate with the primary slide, and handle-engaging members movable upon the secondary slide.

12. In a machine for attaching handles to bags, a primary slide, a stapledriver reciprocated thereby, secondary slide mounted to reciprocate with the primary slide, handle-engaging members movable upon the secondary slide, and rictional, connections between the slides.

13. In a machine for attaching` handles to bags, a primary slide, a staple-driver reciprocated thereby, a secondary slide mounted to reciprocate with the primary slide, handle-engaging members movable upon the secondary slide, rictional connect-ions between the slides, and means actuated by the relative movements of said slides permitted by said rictional connections for causing the handle-engaging movement olf the members.

111. In a machine for attaching handles to bags, a primary slide, a staple-driver reciprocated thereby, a secondary slide mounted to reciprocate with the primary slide, handle-engaging members movable upon the secondary slide, and a plurality ot sliding actuating members between the primary and secondary slides.

15. In a machine Jfor attaching handles to bags, a primary slide, a staple-driver reciprocated thereby, a secondary slide mounted to reciprocate with the primary slide, handle-engaging members movable upon the secondary slide, a pluralityof sliding actuating members between the primary and secondary slides, and lirictional connections between said actuating members.

16. In a machine Jfor attaching portions of articles, attaching mechanism, a gage member adapted to enter the article situated at each side of the attaching mechanism and means permitting said gage members to yield toward the attaching mechanism.

17. In a machine for attaching portions of articles, attaching mechanism, a gage member adapted to enter the article situated at each side ot the attaching mechanism means permitting said gage members to yield toward the attaching mechanism, and means arranged to vary the normal position of the gage members.

yextending itrom each wall in perpendicular relation vthereto and being yieldable longitudinally kof the Wall toward the attaching mechanism.

20. In a machine for stapling handlesv upon bags, stapling mechanism and co-operating manually operable ygage members located respectively on opposite sides of said stapling mechanism and arranged to enter and position the mouth of the bag presented to the stapling mechanism.

2l. In a machine for stapling handles upon bags, stapling mechanism, co-operating movable gage members located respectively on opposite sides of the stapling mechanism arranged to enter and position the mouth olf the bag and springs resisting the movement of the respective gage members toward the stapling mechanism.

2Q. n. machine for stapling handles upon bags comprising a head, stapling mechanism mounted in said head, means for actuating said stapling mechanism and means for preventing the loop oi" the bag handle from engaging said head.

A machine for stapling handles upon bags comprising a head, stapling mechanism mounted in said head, means for actuating said stapling mechanism and a plate secured to said head of suiiicient area to overlie the handle and acting to prevent the handle from engaging said head upon the removal of the bag from the machine.

` 2d. In a machine or stapling handles upon bags,lstapling mechanism, a movable gage A member arranged to enter the mouth of va bag at each side ot' the stapling mechanism, springs resisting the movement of the gage members, and means arranged to adjust the gage members toward and trom the stapling mechanism against the tension of the springs.

25. In a machine for stapling handles upon bags provided with handle-receiving openings, stapling mechanism, and gage members situated at each side of the stapling mechanism and separated therefrom by distances determined by the space between the handle-receiving openings and the sides of the bag.

26. In a machine for stapling handles upon bags provided vwith handle-receiving openings, stapling mechanism, handle-positioning means movable at opposite sides of the stapling mechanism, gage members situated at opposite sides of the stapling mechies anisin and separated therefrom by distances determined by the space between the handlereceiving openings and the sides of the bag, and a yieldable mounting` for each gage member permitting movement thereof to compensate for departures from normal or the spacing of the handle-receiving openings.

27. In a stapling machine, a reciprocatory staple-driving member, actuating mechanism therefor, and pivotal connections bet-Ween the actuating mechanism and driving member having means to permit lost motion therebetweenl and including adjustable means respectively arranged independently to vary the limit of travel of the driving member in opposite directions.

28. In a stapling machine, a reciprocatory staple-driving member, actuating mechanism therefor, pivotally united lost-motion connections between the actuating and driving mechanisms, and adjustable means arranged respectively to vary independently the lost motion for travel of the driving member in either direction.

29. In a stapling machine, a reciprocatory driver, an oscillatory actuating` lever having a pivotally mounted terminal portion movable thereon in the direction ot movement of the driver, a linl; connecting said terminal portion to said driver, and adjustable stops arranged to vary the limit oi movement of the terminal portion.

30. In a stapling machine, a reciprocatory driver, an oscillatory actuating lever having an axial recess in its forward end, a terminal portion pivotally mounted therein and capable of vertical movement relatively to the end of said lever, a linl: connecting said terminal portion to said driver and oppositely disposed set screws adjustably mounted in the end of said actuating lever adapted to engage said terminal portion and limit the range of lost motion thereof.

31. In a machine for stapling handles upmensen on bags, a movable staple-engaging member provided With a space to receive a bag-handle having rearwardly diverging Walls to permit the deflection of the handle as it curves away from the respective points of attachment.

32. In a machine for stapling handles upon bags, an engaging member provided With a groove to receive a staple and With a handle-receiving space at each side of the groove having Walls diverging rearwardly from points adjacent to said groove to permit detlection of the handle as it curves away from the respective points of attachment.

33. In a machine for stapling handles upon bags, an anvil, and an engaging member co-operating with the anvil and provided with a groove extending transversely oi the anvil to receive a staple and Wit-h a handlereceiving space extending from front to rear of the anvil having Walls diverging rearwardly from points adjacent to said groove to permit deection o'lf the handle as it curves away from the respective points oi attachment.

34:. In a stapling machine, a reciprocating staple iorining member and reciprocating driving member and means for imparting diterential movement to said forming member from said driving member, a co-operating pivotally mounted liorn'ling member having a tail engaging said driving member, means upon said driving member for actuating said pivotally mounted forming member to remove the same from staple-forming position during the aple-setting movement ot' the driver and means upon said driving member to cause said pivotally mounted forming member to strip the staple from the reciprocating staple-forming member.

Signed at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, this 3rd day of api-n, 192s.

WILLIAM E. ELLIOTT. 

